Join the statewide search for Tasmania's mysterious autumn frogs
30 Aug 2003
HOBART: Volunteers are urgently needed to join WWF-Australia's ten day 'round Tasmania' field trip to help locate and record two of Tasmania's most elusive frogs - the Southern Toadlet and the Smooth Froglet.
"Data was last collected on the distribution and abundance of these species about a decade ago," says Dr Karyl Michaels, WWF-Australia Tasmanian Coordinator Frogs! Progam.
"This field trip has been organised to collect new data which will update and improve our knowledge of these mysterious autumn breeding frogs."
The trip starts from Hobart on Friday, April 4 with participants travelling to Coles Bay via Kellevie, Buckland and Swansea. Other destinations during the ten day trip include St Helens, Cradle Mountains, Bronte Park, Arthurs Lake and Chauncy Vale. The trip will finish on Sunday, April 13.
"Frog enthusiasts - and isn't that everybody - can join the trip at any stage, and can participate for a day or the entire ten days" says Dr Michaels.
"They will have the opportunity to learn frog detection and monitoring techniques from experts, as well as the satisfaction of contributing to frog conservation in Tasmania."
Volunteers keen to join the field trip should enjoy Tasmania's fickle autumn weather, shouldn't mind roughing it and be prepared to get a little muddy if necessary.
The Smooth Froglet is plump, dark brown frog with light brown stripes, white belly and pink thighs. It is usually found in coastal heaths, sedges and forests in western and central Tasmania and King Island.
The Southern Toadlet is a small burrowing frog which walks rather than hops. It also has colourful markings - a bright orange throat and back legs and a marbled black and blue pattern on its belly.
Described as autumn breeders, these frogs rely on autumn rain to complete their breeding cycles.
"Conditions in Tasmania are favourable at the moment and the field trip has been planned to coincide with the time that these frogs are most active and therefore easier to detect," says Dr Michaels.
If you are interested in frog conservation in Tasmania and would like to become actively involved in frog monitoring work but are unable to join the field trip, contact Dr Michaels for more information about WWF-Australia's Frogseekers Program in Tasmania at Karyl.Michaels@bigpond.com
The statewide field trip is part of the WWF-Australia Frogs! conservation partnership with Rio Tinto Comalco Aluminium (Bell Bay) Limited, a member of the Rio Tinto Group and an active participant in the WWF-Australia Frogs! conservation program in Tasmania.
To join the Tasmanian field trip contact Dr Karyl Michaels on 03 6231 2564 .
